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National Peanut Brittle Day

Food · January 26

A day for peanut brittle, the glassy candy of cooked sugar and roasted peanuts that snaps into jagged, golden pieces.

National Peanut Brittle Day falls on Tuesday, January 26, 2027. That is 91 days away.

Peanut brittle is a hard candy made by cooking sugar, often with corn syrup and butter, until it turns amber, then stirring in peanuts and pouring the whole thing out thin to cool. A spoonful of baking soda usually goes in at the end. It makes the hot candy foam a little, which leaves tiny air pockets and gives the finished sheet a lighter, more tender crunch.

The candy sets fast. Cooks spread it on a buttered pan or a silicone mat and work quickly, because a minute's delay means a thick slab instead of a thin one. Once it cools, nobody cuts it neatly. It gets broken by hand or tapped with the back of a spoon, and the shards come out in whatever shapes they like.

Good brittle tastes of toasted sugar more than plain sweetness, with salt and roasted peanut in every bite. Some people add a pinch of flaky salt on top, swap in other nuts, or stir in a little cayenne for warmth. It keeps well in a sealed tin, which is one reason it shows up so often as a homemade gift.

Humidity is brittle's quiet enemy. Left out on a damp day, the surface turns sticky and the snap softens, so an airtight container is the best place for it.

Ways to celebrate

• Try making a small batch of peanut brittle using a candy thermometer.
• Share a tin of brittle with a neighbor or coworker.
• Look for peanut brittle at a local candy shop or bakery.
• Try a variation with flaky salt, pecans or a pinch of cayenne.

Dates

All national days on January 26

Also on January 26

• Spouse's Day
• National Green Juice Day

Categories: Food days